A group of students sit at tables in a large room and watch a presentation on a screen.
Photo by Jenn Cinicola

Write Your Next Chapter!

date November 14, 2026 — November 15, 2026
Day 1: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Day 2: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
D.C.-Metro Area High School Students | Free

D.C.-Metro area high school students, you have something to say. Let’s make sure people hear it.

Whether you’re writing a college application, walking into a job interview or standing up for a cause you care about, you’ll need to advocate for yourself. The people who move the world forward know how to speak clearly, argue persuasively and make others listen. Learning to find and use your voice is one of the most valuable skills you can carry into what’s next.

This free, two-day experience at Ford’s Theatre is about refining your writing and speaking skills and applying them to unlock tools for your future.

Open to high school students attending public or Title I schools in the D.C.-metro area.

You will:

  • Build confidence in public speaking and self-expression
  • Strengthen persuasive and evidence-based writing skills
  • Choose a focus path—college essays, job interviews or advocacy/community organizing—and get hands-on practice in it
  • Develop critical thinking, collaboration and leadership skills
  • Discover the impact your voice can have in your classroom and community

Abraham Lincoln used all the tools in his toolkit to educate himself and to make it all the way to the White House. Along the way, he learned the power of the written and spoken word and left a legacy that we are still learning from today. Now it is your turn to make your mark.

Write Your Next Chapter is supported in part by funding from a PwC Charitable Foundation Reimagine grant.